A Perfectly Packed Beauty Bag: Vacation Edition

Your outfits are on point, the boutique hotel is booked, and packing is almost complete. But before you zip up that Rimowa luggage, ask yourself—is your beauty bag vacation-ready? The key to a good travel toiletry edit is the same as a great vacation mindset: minimal effort with maximum glow. Whether you’re sunning in Santorini or just sipping a spritz city to city, this is a curated lineup worthy of the limited space in your carry-on. Effective, multi-tasking, and sensorially satisfying, each of these products delivers summer ease without sacrificing performance. —Lauren Walker-Lee

1. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Balm Sunscreen Stick SPF 45
Innovative application, great packaging, and derm-approved sun care in one. This SPF stick glides on like a balm and gives you that glassy K-beauty finish—without the stickiness. It’s invisible, dewy, and fits in even the smallest of straw clutches. Reapplying SPF is key to skin health—and made easier by this slick addition to your beauty bag.

2. Merit Beauty Perfecting Complexion Stick
Think of this as your base, concealer, and even subtle highlighter in one intuitive little stick. It glides on like second skin, blends with fingers, and lets your freckles live their best life. Perfect for breezy dinners or touch-ups before or after a day at the beach.

3. Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint Lip + Cheek Blush Stain
It’s the cool girl’s blush—literally. This sheer jelly stick delivers a flush of colour and doubles as a lip tint, meaning it’s basically two products in one—perfect for travel. It’s long-lasting with a hydrating, bouncy texture that glides on for a sheer, buildable burst of colour. Its unique cooling effect is a welcome addition to your holiday beauty routine.

4. IDC Solis Âge Défense SPF 50
For when you need a more serious SPF moment (think full sun, no shade), this silky French pharma–inspired sunscreen wears like skincare. Loaded with antioxidants and anti-pollution ingredients, it protects like a pro while making your skin look quietly expensive. The tinted version is perfect for those no–makeup days when you need both proper protection and a little bit of coverage. Enriched with 7 grades of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin B5, and over 400 peptides, this innovative formula also acts as a powerful anti-aging treatment.

5. Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer
Because your collarbones deserve to shimmer like Rihanna’s. Back by popular demand, this high-voltage body gloss from Fenty delivers just the right hit of sparkle for golden hour dinners. Since vacation means more skin on show, it’s only fair to give your limbs some love—and this luminizer brings the glow in all the right ways. Dewy, radiant, and gorgeously glossy, it ticks every vacation beauty box. And because we’re all about multitasking while away, don’t be shy—dab a little on your cheekbones for an extra pop.

6. Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water
A French pharmacy icon, this mist is pure skin-plumping hydration. Use it in-flight, post-sun, or to cool down beachside or citywide. It comes in travel-friendly 50ml bottles and is perfect for on-the-go application. The thermal mist easily saves the day if you find yourself a little sun-flushed. Specially infused with antioxidants, the Vichy classic is a natural solution for boosting skin quality and health—and is both soothing and refreshing.

7. Tower 28 MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara
Salt, sweat, and sea air are no match for this clean-girl favourite. It lifts, lengthens, and refuses to smudge—plus, it’s safe for sensitive eyes if you’re living in contacts or constantly poolside. The effortless holiday glam? A few swipes of mascara, a lip stain of choice, and shimmer from your highlighter.

8. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
This cult-status lip balm isn’t just for sleeping. Swipe it on before takeoff or after too many spicy margaritas. It locks in moisture and makes your lips look like you definitely kept up your hydration. The Laneige series of lip masks come in a variety of flavours from berries to matcha to suit every wearer. Sofia Richie Grainge carries vanilla in her bag—and Kendall Jenner is also a big fan.

9. Patchology Serve Chilled On Ice Firming Hydrogel Face Mask
Pop one in the hotel mini fridge and thank us later. These cooling masks are your ticket to de-puffing after a red-eye or reviving dull skin for a night out. Filled with a cocktail of hero ingredients like bakuchiol, cloudberry oil, and peptides, this will refresh and rest your face in five minutes. Available at new beauty emporium Living Beauty in Toronto—we highly recommend checking them out virtually or IRL before checking in for your flight.

10. Ember Wellness Facial Oil + Hydrosol Duo
This Toronto-based brand makes a skin-loving oil/hydrosol pair that’s simple, natural, and totally travel-friendly. The “01” combo is a skin barrier dream (with jojoba and argan oils), and the calendula water mist soothes like aloe—without the sticky factor. They’re a vacation beauty bag staple when space is tight but hydration is a must. Available for various skin types, they’re perfectly paired for your personal skin goals.

11. Gee Beauty Clean Sweep Makeup Wipes
Don’t call them wipes—they’re cleansing cloths. These luxe, biodegradable cloths remove makeup without stripping your skin or making you feel like you’ve skimped on skincare while on vacation. Perfect for makeup removal—or for refreshing on the go when you need a quick, clean reset.